Hey everyone! It’s definitely been a hot minute since I’ve written a post, but I’m back! I’ve been MIA for a few reasons but I’m going to fill you in on everything that’s been going on lately:

Since my last post, I’ve been going nonstop, as my workload grew. I actually got a super amazing internship in New York City, that I’m going to fill you in on in the coming weeks! I’m also taking 6 classes this semester and juggling both school and my internship has been a tough balancing act. I haven’t had much time to breathe and I wanted to take a while to focus on school. It was definitely rough coming back from my trip abroad and just diving right in to my current busy schedule without giving myself time to adjust. My small break from blogging kind of turned into a bigger one than I had planned on, but as the semester is starting to wind down, I’ve got a little more time to focus on what I love– blogging!

Also, a few exciting things have happened since I last wrote:

I turned 21!

I got a super fun room makeover from Dormify!

I registered for my senior year!
Exciting things are happening, and I can’t wait to share them with you soon!!!

Remember that you can ALWAYS find me on social media– I’m constantly posting tons of fun stuff all the time! Click here to follow me on Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest, and Facebook.

What content do you want to see in the next few months? Leave me a comment so I can make it happen!

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Hey everyone! If you haven’t read my article, A Realistic Guide to Setting Goals for the New Year, you wouldn’t know that I’m not super into resolutions. Instead, I set goals (if you don’t know the difference, read my article here). And today I’m going to share what those goals actually are – my blog goals to be exact. But first, I’d like to reflect upon the past year!

My 2016 Blog Successes

As many of you know, I launched this blog a little less than a year ago in March 2016. It started solely as a fashion and beauty blog, but was expanded to include lifestyle as well! When I started this blog, I didn’t make any specific goals except for one: to do my best and work my hardest. And I did his for a few reasons: 1. I was brand new to blogging and I wanted to feel out how everything would go, 2. I wanted to dedicate my first year of blogging solely to content creation and learning, and 3. because I wasn’t sure if I’d enjoy it. Since then, blogging has really exceeded my expectations and I don’t anticipate stopping anytime soon. So here are some of the things I have proudly achieved in 2016 with A La Keighla:

I increased my pageviews by 992 % in 9 months from 400 monthly views to over 4,000

I definitely had some smaller achievements, but these are my most memorable and biggest successes of the year! They’re not huge but I’m proud of how much my blog has grown since I launched! If you’re interested in starting your own blog, check out BlueHost as your hosting platform! Now, on to this year…

My 2017 Blog Goals

I’ve got a lot of work to get done for 2017! Now, these are my biggest goals that I want to achieve and I’m sharing them with you so I can keep myself accountable! Join me this year as I try to reach my goals of 2017:

There’s less than a week until the new year, and I could not be more excited! One of my favorite things to do is to set goals and plan, and that’s what the new year is all about. However, I’m not one for new year’s resolutions. More often than not, new year’s resolutions are lacking a crucial step – planning! That’s why so many people fall off the band wagon early on. Without a plan, it’s difficult to track progress and have actual, attainable steps to making your goals a reality. So, for new year’s instead of making simple resolutions, use this guide to create actual, attainable, and measurable goals! Let’s get started!

Prioritize

One big problem with new year’s resolutions is that a lot of people try to write down every possible thing they want to change in their lives. Writing down every possible thing you want to change or do makes the goals unattainable. How are you going to prioritize 26 different aspects of your life? That’s unreasonable and only sets you up for failure. What’s important is to prioritize, which is the first step in creating your goals for the new year. Think to yourself what’s most important to you and the top 3-5 things you really want to focus on this year.

Be Realistic

So many times people set goals that are unrealistic and unattainable. Being realistic with yourself is important if you want to achieve your goals. A good way of doing this is reflecting on this past year – see what you actually accomplished, how long it took you, and how you achieved (or didn’t achieve) them. This will help you understand yourself and what types of goals are going to be more realistic than others. For example, if last year you worked really hard to save up$400 but your goal was $1000, then maybe your goal this year should be to save $500. But if you were able to save $400 last year and tried a little but you know you could’ve tried to save more a lot harder, then maybe setting a goal of saving $800 is reasonable. It’s all about you being honest with yourself and the reality of the past year and upcoming year for you. Everyone’s situation is different, so make goals that you know you will be able to achieve!

Challenge Yourself

With everything about being realistic being said, it’s also important to challenge yourself with your goals. They’re goals for a reason! They should be things that require hard work, but are attainable with that. Goals that are too easy aren’t goals!

Segment Long-Term Goals Into Short-Term Goals

The best way to achieve your goals is to segment them into smaller goals. When you have one big goal you want to accomplish, it can be hard to measure and you can get lost in it. By chopping up your long-term goals into smaller tasks, your bigger goal will become more attainable because you’ll be able to take it step-by-step. Your goal will become measurable which is exactly what you want in a good goal. Think about it this way: it’s like having a checklist of specific items to buy at the grocery store for your recipe vs. going to the grocery store with just “fettuccine alfredo ingredients” written on your list. Have each and every step written down for your long term plan! For example, if your overall goal is saving money to buy a new car, chop it up into smaller goals like “start a change jar” and “save $500 by May”. This will make your goals more actionable. It’s also really motivating to set smaller goals and get each one checked off!

Set Deadlines

Take your short-term goals and set deadlines. Deadlines sound kinda sucky but they work, I promise! By creating deadlines, you’re more likely to take action on your goals, no matter how big or small.

Be Accountable

The best way to make sure you take action on your goals is to hold yourself accountable! There are so many different ways of doing this for all your different types of goals. If your goal is to work out 3 times a week, have a workout buddy wth the same goals so that you hold each other accountable. You could also start a blog on your goals, post to social media about them, or make a spreadsheet – the options are endless! Any way you hold yourself accountable is important, and the bigger the goal, the more accountable you should hold yourself!

To help you get ready for the new year, I’ve made you a FREE goal-setting worksheet where you can list your priorities, goals, steps, and deadline! Click HERE or on the image below to download yours now! Enjoy!

What are your goals for 2017? Share them with me by posting a comment below!

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Hey everyone! Christmas is almost here and it’s time to crack down on Holiday shopping! Holiday shopping can be really difficult, especially if you want to get a meaningful gift for someone. I’ve compiled a list of 9 different types of people you might be shopping for, and have a list of great gifts I know they’ll love. This guide can be used for ideas, or you can actually purchase these items by clicking on the links! Remember, you can always mix and match these guides to better suit the person you’re shopping for!

For the Girl Boss…

Any girl boss would agree that all of these are great gifts to give and receive! Working girls need things that will help them keep up with their busy schedules, and I can guarantee all of these things will do just that. A portable coffee mug will keep them awake on their way to work, while a good pair of headphones will entertain them (if they take public transit)! To take with them to school/work, the OG Bag by Lo & Sons is a miracle – it holds so much stuff! And of course no girl boss could survive without her planner! Planners can get expensive and it seems a little crazy splurging on one, but I promise it will be a very appreciated gift! For us college girls, a document holder is necessary to transport our resumes to interviews and career fairs in a nice and stylish way!

For the Athlete…

Of course workout gear is always a great option for an athlete, but here’s some ideas to change it up! Staying healthy and getting in a solid workout will be fun and easy with these gifts! Yoga mats are great gifts for girls living on campus in dorms because it allows us to work out in our room! A water bottle is a necessary item for not only the gym, but class too! This water bottle will keep liquids cold for 24 hours and hot for 12. Running around campus between classes and the gym is made easier with a good, cute pair of sneakers and ear buds! For the girls who like to listen to music while running, an arm band is a complete must. Lastly, Fitbits are huge right now and if she already has one, a cute strap for it would be an awesome gift!

For the Techie…

I would argue that any girl would appreciate these gifts, but especially if they’re into tech. All of these options are not only functional, but cute as well! I have to say that Bluetooth speakers are always handy and this Kate Spade one is absolutely adorable with its envelope-style pouch! For girls on the go, a good pair of headphones is a great gift along with this absolutely adorable tassel charger! And for any college student, an Amazon Fire stick makes Netflix nights with friends even better because their favorite shows, movies, and music can be played on the TV instead of the computer! A laptop case is also a really great gift that will keep her laptop safe and cute! Lastly, Polaroid cameras are super fun and a cute way to snap photos with friends!

For The Hostess…

We all have that one person in our life that loves to party, whether it’s attending them or throwing them! If you’ve got a friend like that, they’re going to love all of these gifts! Blankets are a great gift to give because you can never have too many! For all your friends that love to cook, this recipe box, cutting board, and serving dishes are a super fun and cute gift to give! Candles are also another great gift because they’re cute and smell so good! And lastly, bar carts are super trendy right now, whether they’re used for their intended purpose or just for decoration! It’s definitely a pricier gift, but definitely worth it!

For the Fashionista…

Fashionistas can be hard to shop for with so many options out there. I recommend non-clothing items like accessories and shoes especially cold weather and holiday party accessories for upcoming New Years celebrations! These earrings, necklace, and clutch are great for any girl that’s got new years plans already lined up – they’re sparkly and perfect for a NYE party! For the fashionista that hates the cold, give her the gift of warmth with these adorable touch screen gloves and scarf! And if she’s like any other fashionista out there, over-the-knee boots will definitely be on her wishlist. These ones are stylish and designer, but are on sale right now for a great price!

For the Beauty Guru…

To be honest, heading to Sephora without a plan can be overwhelming. Here’s some things any beauty guru would love to receive! I can personally vouch for the curling wand- it’s amazing! I love to give bundles as gifts, too. They’re great for any girl who loves to try new products! You can also make your own bundle with a makeup bag, some brushes, and a lipstick set! And, to keep her tools looking brand new, a brush cleaning mat would be a great gift!

For the Jet-Setter…

Traveling is fun, but it’s also very overwhelming! Getting your jet-setting friend some items that will make traveling easier (and more stylish) will be very appreciated. Take it from me- I’ve been traveling constantly for the last 5 months! Read about how I prepared for it here. To keep track of all your important things, a passport case, travel wallet, carry-on bag, and luggage tags are all important to have. Gift these things if she doesn’t have them already! For a fun gift, fill this inexpensive travel makeup bag with travel-size items from Sephora’s “Beauty on the Fly” section, or this carry-on cocktail kit (if they’re of age of course)!

For the Spa Girl…

All college girls need a break every now and then, and what’s a better way to do it than an at-home spa day? Make your friend a comfy spa kit so they can relax and pamper themselves! All of these items are great for a relaxing night in. Cute pajamas and slippers are always a good place to start! Throw in a few things to make her feel pampered, like a bath bomb, lip scrub, and face mask (or DIY your own here). Top it all off with a candle and you’ve got a gift any spa girl will love!

At this point, I would say it’s safe to say I’m a font junkie. You can never have too many! Whether you’re doing another DIY project or designing wedding invitations, a cute font is a must-have. Fonts can be great investments, especially if you need them for your business, but let’s face it – good ones can be expensive. As much as I love shopping on Creative Market, I’m probably not going to spend $15 for a font if I only plan on using it once for a personal project. Sometimes, we all just need quality fonts for our own personal use, without the buyer’s regret.

And that’s exactly what these are – beautiful script fonts that are perfect for your newest project and easy on your bank account! Plus, all of them are available for commercial use, so they’re blog-ready! Hooray!

Enjoy your new free fonts! Which is your favorite? Let me know in the comments!

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